Sept 17 Swimming

My most recent (and hopefully not LAST) swim of the summer was Sept 17, although I was at the shore on another beautiful, sunny day, when the water was STILL warmer than the air (9/26).

The water is always the best, silkiest and most amazing in the world!

Swimsuits Going Out of Business

My favorite swimsuit company is going out of business.

https://shop.sorellaswim.com/cart

They had models known as the Marilyn, Lana and also Ginger.  Carried in all shapes and sizes, at least my size. Beautiful and glamorous. Finally I was comfortable in a swimsuit. I laugh at what I used to consider decent-I was glad I spent most of my time in the water with them.

I wish I had needed to order suits more often.

Swimming Forever

Sometimes there are days when you can swim forever.

When the silkiness of the water meets your body like a dream.  You resent the weight and gravity of air when you have to emerge.

It's the most beautiful dance, the most elegant substance.  You float, you fly.

You never want to get out.

Mutual Admiration Society

The BEST situations are around Mutual Admiration Societies.

It might not always be equitable, but it is important to come from a place of respect and enjoyment of the other person's talents.  Winning an award, one should always be gracious and effusive in thanks.

Winning and maintaining friendships, it is important to determine comfort levels of communication, how to ensure that you've made a secure bond and how to keep it going.

Getting into the Water, the First Time in Spring

Some days you ease into the water slower than others. 

Sometimes there are other people in front of you, laughing off the cold.  And then there are the people behind you, like you once were, hesitant and tiptoeing in, afraid in their new old versions of themselves, soon to be replaced in the series.

You have it down.  You walk in, as far as you dare, at least to your waist. And then have your hands in, wet your arms, touch the cold to your face.  Sprinkle it down your own back.  Tease yourself into the cold.

Tease yourself as long as you dare, but at some point, it'll only get better when you dive in. Whole body, none of this saving your hair or keeping your head above the water.  Just give in. Let the water take you like a fish.

You can swim all the way across, even if you tell your mother that you only went halfway.  Just swim twice as fast. (less than 1:30 min 5:15 to 6:30ish) 

Somehow, you go faster on a hot day.

Falling Out and in Love with the Man(uscript)

Falling Out and in Love with the Man(uscript)

Sometimes it's good to be obsessed with your writing.

And then sometimes, it makes you sick with the intensity.

So it's good to be able to take a step back, and get back into your life. AND, you'd be amazed at how much easier it is to edit when you have a little perspective.

And then, when you get back into it, there's a lot of THERE there. Sure, trim away all the fat.  Lots of crap, but now it's easier to let go of it.

And I'm sure it'll be a cycle.  I need to get through this draft.  And then, rinse, repeat.

I'll forget again. But I'll fall in love again.

Readable Draft

I hope you are as fascinated by the novel writing process as I am.

I'm taking 2 classes (1 on Query Letters to Lit Agents and one on World Building in Fiction). Getting an editor lined up, workshopping one of the chapters.  Very exciting.

My goal this month is a readable draft.  I have the structure, and 250 pages of scenes, notes, and things to write.  I want to send out the first 50 pages to my editor asap.

I've published several short stories and plays, but getting together a giant chunk of something (with a full time job plus travel) is tremendously difficult. But rewarding!